Customer Reviews

Funk Spectrum V.1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Full of heavy heavy rare funk grooves that you'll never find on any other compilation, or on original vinyl for that matter (unless you want to spend an arm and a leg on it). Make sure you also pick up Keb Darge's Legendary Deep Funk Volumes 1 & 2, on the Barely Breaking Even label. Volume 3 is set to drop some time soon as well. While you're at it, go ahead and pick up every other comp on the BBE label, since they're all real groovers. As for the lack of artist information, after months of digging through the crates, and painstaking research, this is what I've come up with:

Josh`s List: Party Time - The Masters Let`s Do It Today - (Procasternation) - The "US" Do It Again - Deep Heat The Dead Don`t Die Alive - 4th Coming Getting Down For Xmas - Milly & Silly The Road - Communicators & Black Experience Band Mr Chicken S*it - The Soul Seven Clap Your Hands - Reginald Milton & The Soul Jets Butter That Popcorn - The RDM Band Whats Going On - Mr Clean & The Soul Inc

Keb's List Can`t Stop Now - Mr Magic It`s A Man`s World - Lou Pride Every Man For Himself - The Roadrunners Tell Me - Ricky Calloway It Ain`t Fun But It`s Fun - Fabulous Originals Backtalk - Second Ammendment Band Mr Machine - The Chefs Who`s The King? - Joseph Henry The World - Sandi & Matues

There are so many 'Funk' Compilations doing the rounds these days, it's kinda hard to know, what separates a great one, from a merely okay one. Obviously it comes down (largely) to track selection, and it's the compilers job to pick not only tracks that haven't featured on a thousand compilations before it, but selecting tracks that stand-up under repeated plays, and (hopefully) introduce the listener into something that he/she may not have heard before. (again, selecting rare tracks, that aren't particularly engaging/unlistenable is also one of the pitfalls to avoid).

So who better than, "Josh Davis" (aka "DJ Shadow"), who has put his life-times worth of music crate-digging to help with this compilation. Digging up either rare funk/soul tracks that 90% of listeners won't have heard of before, or (in a couple of instances, I found) selecting tracks that although you might not know the original, you might recognise that some of these tracks sound like they've been sampled for other tracks. Josh Davis selects half the tracks featured here, and Label boss and selector "Keb Darge" (of the label BBB (Barely, Breaking,Even), selects the other half of the tracklisting.

As is befitting someone of Josh Davis' high level of quality, with most projects that he involves himself with, its clearly a labour of love for both compilers, as a cross section of rare groove, instrumental funk, Jazz-Funk, celebratory R&B, and old school funk feature throughout. The selection by both Keb & Josh is inspired, and seeing as the vast majority of listeners will not be familiar with the material here, those (like me), will relish, this collection of obscure grooves. What makes this collection harder to review or go into more depth is the lack of Names of the artists included on the Cd Notes, due mainly to Josh's insistence that naming the artists would be breaking "The B-Boy Code", which is all well and good....but it makes identifying (or indeed finding out any more information regarding the artist nigh-on impossible).

Another thing to be fully aware of, if you're considering buying this, is that this compilation feels squarely aimed at the more 'Music Enthusiast' end of the market. As this isn't really suited for those that want a really accessible/easy introduction to funk. There is no doubt that the material contained here, are all gems, but those that are fairly new to funk or have just a passing interest, will find the going tough, (especially not being able to have artist's names to refer to). But those expecting an easy route into funk, will be better served by something a little less intimidating. Both compilers hand in a fantastic selection on this disk, but I'd probably give the nod (ever so slightly) to Josh's selection, as he focuses a little more on the instrumental-funk side of things.....but Keb's selection is a little more cohesive. If you are prepared for the no-frills approach, this compilation takes, and can survive without knowing the artists names (which oddly isn't a problem on volumes 2 & 3), this is a seriously fantastic collection of dusty grooves, that'll appeal to those listeners that have tried, of funk compilations that start with 'James Brown' & end with 'Sly & the family stone', and remember....if you love this compilation (and there's a fair chance you will), there's a further 2 more fantastic volumes to go out and purchase.

I disagree with the reviewer who said you need to be a funk enthusiast to dig this album.

I like funk and soul alot, but I'm far from an expert or hardcore collector. Still, I love this cd. No weak points in the song selection and the blend is diverse enough that you get a good range of styles and sounds.


To get an idea of whether or not this appeals to you though, you can check out some of the songs on youtube (though the sound quality is far worse, as to be expected).

Its hard finding most of them, but you should be able to listen to the following if you perform a search.

Deep Heat - Do It Again
Communicators & Black Experience Band - The Road
The Chefs - Mr. Machine
Sandi And Matues - The World

Unfortunately thats all that seems to be available, and my favourite tracks from the album are nowhere to be found. Still, this should help give some idea of the flavour of this cd.

a friend gave me a copy of this that he downloaded and said it was labeled as dj shadow.. he was wrong but all in all this is pretty good, being kind of new to funk but love all sorts of electronic bleeps and whistles, this seems to somehow mesh together i dunno how to describe it its not really james brown type funk. worth a listen would def be good at a party or sittin around chillin

Are pure masters at the funk they spin on there wheels of steel. Now the people who know whats cool have selected there best coolest tracks and put it all on one CD. So this is on cool mother. I have got it on CD and Vinyl so this is my most played piece when im Dj-ing with the masters music. (by the way josh davies and keb darge didn't write the songs, just selected them from there massive collections). This is beautiful. BUY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Possibly one of the best collections of underground funk known to man. Afficianados of hard to find funk singles will be pleased with the collection that these two gentleman have amassed. The selections are full of sweaty and greasy funk grooves from the late 60's through the mid 70's. I hate to sound like one of those rock-and-roll compilation infomercials, but you'd spend a lot of time and money trying to find individual singles this great. And all on one handy CD!

The only downfall to the CD is the compilers witholding the names of the artists performing each of the cuts. They allude to the songs origins somewhat in the liner notes and touch more on their hard work in obtaining the physical vinyl versions for their own collections.

This cd is amazing. please, please get it. I was fortunate enough to be at the release party for this album at Bar Rhumba in London, UK and it was awesome- Dj Shadow and Keb Darge went head to head on the turntables, each trying to out-do each other with rarer and rarer funk cuts. I don't mind that they left out the artists names, because you're never gonna find these singles anywhere, and even you did you wouldn't have the money for them. So for those less serious collectors, get this one because it's all the funk you'll ever need.

There is a Funk Spectrum II, with Keb Darge and Kenny Dope, but it's not as good this first one.

this disc is so good,what can i say? josh and keb spinning obscure funk 45's.i can't believe this disc is 25 bucks now,but well worth it to people who know funk doesn't begin and end with parliament(no disrepect to parliament).